Darien resident to run in IRONMAN Lake Placid

Published 11:46 am, Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Jeffrey Hingst, of Darien, will line up with other elite athletes from around the world on July 27, for the iconic Iroman Lake Placid race for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation's (MMRF) "Team for Cures".

Iroman Lake Placid is the oldest and one of the most prestigious of the Iroman events in North America.

Established in 1998 by New Canaan resident Kathy Giusti and her twin sister Karen Andrews, the MMRF is non-profit organization whose mission is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure.

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Myeloma, currently an incurable blood cancer, is the second most common blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The MMRF is the world's largest private funder of myeloma research and has created research models that are serving as a blueprint to accelerate treatments for the disease and other cancers.

For the Iroman Lake Placid event, Hingst will race in honor of his mother, Gerry Hingst, a 21-year cancer survivor, and Allison Hingst, his sister, a 3-year cancer survivor.

"When both my mom and my sister were diagnosed with cancer, I was stunned and felt helpless on what to do," Hingst said. "Being a member of MMRF Team for Cures at this world renowned Iroman event allows me take some direct action in helping to fund the critical research needed for my mom, my sister, and many others."

The MMRF is the official charity partner of Iroman Lake Placid, a grueling 140.6. mile race that consists of a 2.4-mile swim in Mirror Lake, a 112-mile bike ride through the mountains of the Adirondacks and a 26.2-mile run. Athletes must complete this distance in less than 17 hours to be considered a finisher. The MMRF will have more than 100 triathletes racing for Team for Cures on and raise more than $750,000 for cancer research.

In 2008, the MMRF started an endurance charity program that has since grown to include a select group of world-class events that range from the TCS New York City Marathon to the Empire State Building Run-Up. In 2014, the MMRF Endurance Events Program is projected to raise nearly $3 million via 1,000 athletes, bringing the seven-year total funds raised to more than $12.5 million.

In 2013, the MMRF Endurance Events program entered into an exclusive agreement with Iroman to become the official charity partner of Iroman Lake Placid, rallying around the tag line: "Beyond Perceived Limits".

"We have found ways to get the impossible done with events like Iroman Lake Placid," said Alicia O'Neill, Director of Endurance Events for the MMRF. "The success of these events is directly correlated to the passion of each athlete who not only takes on the challenge of these strenuous races, but makes a difference in the lives of patients with multiple myeloma. These caring individuals reach out to their friends, coworkers, and family members, who in turn contribute whatever amount they can. It all adds up, and the power of one becomes the power of many."